A man and woman who ambushed, robbed and shot a senior citizen patron of a Northeast gun range last year, stealing his seven handguns, pleaded guilty on Thursday to numerous felony charges stemming from the crime.
Common Pleas Court Judge Robert P. Coleman will sentence Jeffrey Chandler, 28, and Samiyyah Poteat, 21, separately in the case. According to Assistant District Attorney Tracie Gaydos, the prosecution agreed to recommend a sentence of three to 10 years for Poteat as part of a negotiated plea. Chandler pleaded openly, with no agreement as to the sentence that the prosecutor will seek.
The shooting occurred last June 12 at about 8:38 p.m. at Delaware Valley Sports Center, 101 Geiger Road. The victim, a 68-year-old man, and a friend had just left the facility. The defendants approached them in the parking lot and announced a robbery. Chandler had a gun.
The victims surrendered their wallets, cell phones, cash and seven guns. Although they complied with the demand, Chandler shot the 68-year-old anyway, wounding him critically in the groin.
The wounded man underwent emergency surgery and was hospitalized for a month.
The same defendants also committed a similar robbery outside Yury’s Gun Range, 544 N. Percy St., on June 11, but no shots were fired then.
Both defendants waived their right to a preliminary hearing and their right to a recitation of the case facts at their plea hearings. Poteat is scheduled for sentencing on April 9, while Chandler is scheduled for June 11. ••
